5 minute read
HEALTH
COST OF CANCER
Happy New Year everyone, we trust you all had a great Christmas too. Hope it was spent with family and friends. Thank you to everyone who came to our Light for A Life event at the Hi-Tide, I was really bad with the flu and unable to attend. Thank you to everyone who helped out in my place. Thank you to the DWP Bridgend, who have recently donated £332.99 to us after all the staff did some fundraising recently. We are hoping to put some more events on this year. We have our Step up For January where you do 12,000 each day throughout the month of January, details can be found on our website. Hopefully we can put on another acoustic night in Cowbridge with the band Omega Blend playing for us again, it was a really successful night. Nights like this helps us to keep helping others. For those of you who don’t know, we help families of those who are going through treatment for cancer. We help with the bills that arrive on the door mat every month regardless of what the occupants are going through. Bills like gas, electric, water etc. So, if your family is affected or you know someone is affected you know what to do, get in touch with us. We offer families total discretion and privacy.
Nicky, Emma & Cath Trustees
CONGRATULATIONS
Well done, you have made it to another New Year and fitted in all those people events shopping, worship and entertainment before Christmas. What did you enjoy? What wasn’t so good? What happens next time? Well, that’s up to you, you can repeat the same Christmas this year or you can change it. Though be warned your friends and family may not be so keen on change, “since this is the way we have always done it.” As Portia Wilson explains, “Chapter One of My Life, I walk down the street. There’s a deep hole in the pavement. I fall in. I am lost. I am helpless. It’s not my fault. I take forever to find a way out. Chapter Two, I walk down the same street. There’s a deep hole in the pavement. I pretend I don’t see it. I fall in again. It isn’t my fault, but it still takes a long time to get out. Chapter Three I walk down the same street. There’s a deep hole in the pavement. I see it there and I still fall in! It’s a habit. My eyes are open. I know where I am. It’s my fault. I get out immediately. Chapter Four, I walk down the same street. There’s a deep hole in the pavement. I walk around it. Chapter Five, I walk down a different street.”
Margaret Brown
Truly Scrumptious by Lorraine Stone
All mens & ladieswear alterations undertaken, from special occasion wear to casual clothing. also now available ...soft furnishings including roman blinds, cushions, curtains.
Call Lorraine on:
Tel: 01656 740190 or Mob: 07816 184343
UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF SODIUM AND POTASSIUM IN THE BODY
Sodium and potassium play an important role in your overall health. “Potassium and sodium are electrolytes that work together in your body by maintaining fluid and blood volume, but they have opposite effects,” said Amy Fox, certified nutritionist and certified functional food professional who runs the Food and Mood website. “Consuming too little potassium and too much sodium can raise your blood pressure and potentially cause long-term heart problems.” Sodium helps to balance our bodily fluids and regulate our blood pressure, and plays a crucial role in normal nerve and muscle function, transmitting nerve impulses between the brain and the body and allow muscles to contract, Dina Totosegis, registered dietitian and founder of Sprouting Foodies, explained. Potassium holds similar roles in the body as sodium such as maintaining water balance, sending nerve impulses, and contracting muscles, however it works to counter the effects of sodium in the body. One possible explanation for high sodium intake and adverse effects on cognitive decline may be related to the endothelial cells inside the brain, Fox explained. These are the primary type of cell found in the inside lining of blood vessels and help regulate blood flow to the brain and interact with the surrounding brain tissue. A high dietary intake of salt has been associated with the dysfunction of these cells. Endothelial dysfunction may play a role in brain-related diseases, specifically cerebral small vessel disease, one of the leading causes of dementia, Fox added. Some early studies have also shown that high sodium levels may cause a chemical change to a protein called tau. This change can cause tau to clump together. This type of clumping is being investigated as a potential link to with some dementias, including Alzheimer’s disease. Potassium is an electrolyte that helps to optimize brain function. Tips to reduce sodium in your diet. Use fresh rather than packaged foods. Fresh foods usually have much less sodium added during processing. Boost your intake of fruit and vegetables, which are naturally low in sodium. Canned and frozen fruits can be low in sodium too, but choose options that have “No Salt Added,” or “Fresh Frozen,” and do not contain added seasoning or sauces. Read the Nutrition Facts label to check the daily value amounts. Choose products with 5% Daily Value (DV) or less, Fox explained. Stay away from 20% Daily Value (DV) or higher. Also, compare brands. You’d be surprised how much sodium content can vary brand to brand. It’s a common practice for companies to inject saltwater solutions into their poultry for tastier, juicier meat. Inspect the label to ensure it hasn’t been injected with a sodium solution, Fox said. Sodium levels in unseasoned fresh meats are around 100 milligrams (mg) or less per 4-ounce serving. Condiments are high in sodium. Fox recommended limiting the use of condiments or buying reduced- or lower-sodium versions. Prepare home-cooked meals from scratch as much as possible to help limit the sodium content of processed or fast foods. Season with herbs and spices to add flavor while limiting table salt.
